When my parents arrived for my son’s birthday party, my father was red-faced and sputtering. “We couldn’t turn off the side road because a cop blocked it for almost five minutes while a line of motorcycles flew by.”
“Did a lot of the bikes have American flags attached and were the riders wearing vests with lots of patches?”
“So what. They made us late.”
“I think you missed seeing the front of the line. That was the Patriot Guard escorting our neighbor’s cousin to her funeral. She was killed in Afghanistan.”
“Oh. I guess she deserved a cop escort.”
In response to Charli Mills May 3, 2018, prompt from Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less) use a line in your story. You can think of the variation of the word meaning, or you can think of visual references. Go where the prompt leads.
May 3: Flash Fiction Challenge
Sue Spitulnik 
05/07/2018 at 13:03
A great take on the prompt, Susan.
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05/07/2018 at 20:33
Thanks Robbie. Again, just writing what I know.
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05/08/2018 at 12:30
Reblogged this on Imagination and information for book's..
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05/08/2018 at 16:59
Thank you Michelle. I know members of the Patriot Guard and have witnessed their escort service first hand. Very moving.
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05/10/2018 at 00:59
It’s powerful to see an honor guard drive by, but not everyone understands. Those who pay for the freedom of us all are often the ones who don’t get to experience the freedom.
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05/10/2018 at 06:26
Well said.
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05/14/2018 at 22:12
I shared your flash fiction with my veteran spouses’ group last Friday and they all loved it. It was timely because one of the spouses was talking about how being in the motorcycle color guard was so important to him.
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05/15/2018 at 07:35
It’s a blessing when our writing resonates with others it’s like sharing a hug with someone who understands. The guys that I know who ride tell me it is a way to continue to serve with their “brothers” and to honor their own.
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05/15/2018 at 16:40
It does feel like that! And then, one of the spouses sent me a 99-word flash fiction after saying she wished she could write but she couldn’t. She went and proved herself wrong! You inspired her!
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05/16/2018 at 05:47
I love our community of helpers and positive reinforcement. I’m glad I m paying it forward.
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